Warning to Illegal Premier League Streamers: Man Handed Massive Prison Sentence in Landmark IPTV Case
Football fans who illegally watch the Premier League and other competitions have been sent a stark warning after a man was handed one of the most severe punishments on record for illegal IPTV streaming.
The rise of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology has contributed to an increase in illegal streaming of sports events, including the Premier League. Despite the potential legal implications and security risks involved, one in 10 Britons has admitted to using illicit means to watch sport, according to a YouGov poll last year.
Sky and other broadcasters have been working with police forces across the UK to target those responsible for setting up illegal services. A new initiative, BeStreamWise, was launched last month to dissuade fans from accessing sport illegally.
The warning comes after two brothers were sentenced to a combined 11 years behind bars in August following a crackdown on illegal IPTV streaming, which is often accessed through jailbroken Fire Sticks.
Now, fans have been sent another major warning after a man in Greece was handed ‘one of the most punishing sentences on record’ for setting up illegal IPTV streams. The unnamed man, who operated as a reseller of illegal IPTV packages for many years, was connected to a broader criminal organization that obtained illegal profits of millions of euros.
The man was sentenced to eight years in prison and handed a €17,000 (£14,146) fine by a Thessaloniki Court in a landmark case in the Mediterranean country. The authorities also obtained the personal details of up to 50,000 illegal IPTV subscribers following a number of raids in recent months, with investigations ongoing and arrests planned.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of illegal streaming. It’s not just the streamers who are at risk, but also the subscribers who could face prosecution themselves.
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Topics: Football, Premier League, IPTV